Richie Incognito visiting Bucs
Richie Incognito is visiting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday in his first trip to a team's facility since he was implicated in the Jonathan Martin bullying scandal with the Miami Dolphins last season.
Incognito's visit will take place later Monday. A team official told ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas that the Buccaneers are doing their due diligence and a signing isn't necessarily imminent.
"I'm going on the facts right now. The facts are we're bringing him in for a visit. So, guys, there's nothing else for me to talk about or tell you from there. We evaluate all prospects. He's a prospect and we're looking at him," coach Lovie Smith said Monday.
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Smith said he believes in second chances and wants to talk to Incognito himself.
"To me, nobody should have a death sentence. If you should, you're probably in jail," he said. "From there, what does it hurt to talk to someone? For me, as we go forward, I'm not holier than thou. I'm going to give everybody the benefit of the doubt until I have information that tells me otherwise."
Both quarterback Josh McCown and defensive tackle Gerald McCoy said Monday that there wouldn't be a problem in the locker room if Incognito is signed.
"I don't care. As long as he can help us win, that's all I'm concerned about. If there's a problem, then we'll deal with it accordingly," McCoy said. "But as long as he's doing what he's supposed to be doing in the building, then I'm not concerned about anything else."
McCown said he trusted the judgment of general manager Jason Licht and coach Smith.
"No matter who it is, if anybody becomes an addition to our team, the thing that Lovie always talks about is embracing them and making them feel like one of us," McCown said.
"We feel good about our locker room and feel good about the ability to add anybody and be able to embrace him and help him be a part of the Buccaneers," he added.
Maybe he can see if Laurence Taylor is available also?
